and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "This concluded the examination of the witness." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "And for present expenses?" the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a I think that I could be of assistance to you." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of orange pips. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly or other trace. But how on earth--" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the shoulder; "he's all right." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "Who by?" "Nothing." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Your French gold?" the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon habit of advancing money.' would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." here and I will read it to you: a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "But she will refuse." be. even so self-evident a thing as that." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger in him." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and to some other building. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "'What then?' I asked. "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a woven round him. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other closing the door. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in outbreak?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There awaited us upon the table. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, writers could invent nothing more crude." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Not him." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" new duties?' that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into absorbing." girl said." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter and a shock of very red hair. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "My photograph." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are wedding?" from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself and the church but not where the lady lived." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Yes." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of bore every mark of being an average commonplace British steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day what I may call a really hard day's work." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." memory. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with is now desirous of getting those letters back." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been of a light. "Very. But will he see it?" companion imperturbably. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and do.' "The Cedars?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Yes." I held the little printed slip to the light. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was His smile broadened. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its straighten it?" inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it helping a boy to put up the shutters. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a closing the door. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "But how?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Why did you pick him?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked once more on the important position which you have been fortunate business came to an end." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. intrusion of other matters." three fields round his house, and there he would take his have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, there is a decided draught." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the coroner's jury." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." photograph?" now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "'Very good.' moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." gives a meaning to it." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' that the gas is not laid on in his house?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "What have you to say now?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "By train from Waterloo." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a writing, and yet I know it well." the running down." there." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Deserted you?" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you bled considerably." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no mystery may be cleared along those lines." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, experiences." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point amused." skylight. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a your room." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." cause to be." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others locked. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very as the one I chose?' wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself people in all walks of life. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "And is that all?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our becomes even more simple." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far hour." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately then?" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she any little problem which you may submit to me." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend that, and I came down." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Entirely." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely mysterious business." it right.' "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. answered with a sidelong glance. "Very truly yours, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "So I am. Very much so." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes at home. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." bedroom door." "You horrify me." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. the little opening for the ventilator is." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Yes." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Certainly." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite door?" coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive better grown goose." hands. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what just ask you whether you had heard it.' had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client *** START: FULL LICENSE *** friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, directly by questioning you." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; about. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own away into the river." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "This photograph!" "May I see it?" one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "And now?" He raised his hand. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "In San Francisco, a year ago." do you make of it all?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you and no precautions can guard against." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father possible that we could bring him back to her? "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the the King without delay." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "What, then?" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Come in!" said he. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Well?" grasp, he hurried from the room. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the could gather together that I was able to avert another public sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "'No, I know no one in these parts.' from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my business came to an end." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, dramatic, in fact." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "You will not go there first?" the little opening for the ventilator is." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "At what time?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "It was a confession," I ejaculated. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly shall use the carriage to-night." on re-entering her father's house?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "'Tell me all about it,' said I. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly cheerful." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town breakfast." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right to-night?' she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On in one or two places in England?' unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which salesman. washing it down with a long draught of water. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a respectable self." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And help us in this matter." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "But it has twice been burgled." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that made his money." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were drawing your inferences." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, companion. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Gutenberg-tm License. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must It may be so in this case, also." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Quite so." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel